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CHANCES are that in the container world of the future hauliers may have to accept even lower rates—unless they watch the situation closely and take collective action when, arid if, my prediction becomes fact. Container construction could be the cause. Steel containers are catching on and insurers—especially those concerned with the North Atlantic—were no doubt recently glad to hear Mr. Terje Reuter, technical director of Atlantic Container line (now using Southampton and Liverpool), tell delegates at a symposium in Brussels that in future ACL will purchase only steel containers. "Our experience clearly shows that the repair costs for steel units are 2.5 per cent of the purchase price per year, while for aluminium-and-steel units the figure is 7.5 to 9 per cent of the purchase price per year". Mr. Reuter said. The insurers are glad, no doubt, because of some experiences on the line's Scandinavia-USA service last winter when one of their vessels was in a particularly severe North Atlantic storm. They feel that if ships have to be made of steel to combat such seas, then so should any containers stowed on the upper deck. This news should particularly please York Trailer Co. and Adamson and Hatcheft who have pioneered steel containers in this country. But, with heavier tare weights to contend with, hauliers will have to watch the rates. Ironically enough, York has just announced a new aluminium container!